Genesis Philanthropy Group

The Genesis Philanthropy Group (GPG) is a global family of foundations, co-founded by Mikhail Fridman, an international businessman and philanthropist, and his business partners.[1][2] In 2022 after Russian invasion in Ukraine the EU imposed sanctions on Fridman, who said the EU's allegations were false and defamatory. After that the Charity Commission has opened a statutory inquiry into and frozen the bank account.[3] An interim manager was subsequently appointed.[4]

GPG supports causes which strengthen Jewish identity all over the world, advancing Jewish engagement into the 21st century to create a more diverse and connected global Jewish community.[5] [6]

GPG's work is inspired by its founders’ commitment to:

  • strengthening Jewish identity among Russian-speaking Jews worldwide.[7]
  • fostering bonds and common understanding between Jews living in Israel and in the Diaspora.[8]
  • developing innovative formats geared towards the expansion of Jewish engagement opportunities.[9]
  • expanding local and global Jewish connection opportunities in the UK and Spain.[10][11]

In January 2014, Gennady Gazin was elected chairman of the board. Ilia Salita, the former president and CEO of the foundation, died in June 2020.[12] Marina Yudborovksy was appointed as GPG's new CEO in July 2020.[13][14]

In partnership with the State of Israel, GPG launched the “Our Common Destiny” initiative in 2019 to strengthen the bonds among Jews worldwide.[15] The Declaration of Our Common Destiny sets out five deeply-held values that unite the Jewish people[16] and was endorsed by Israel's president Reuven Rivlin as a “roadmap for the Jewish future”.[17]

  1. ^ "Mikhail M Fridman, LetterOne Holdings SA: Profile and Biography". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
  2. ^ "20 лучших благотворительных фондов богатейших бизнесменов России". Forbes.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2021-04-12.
  3. ^ "Regulator investigates charity over sanctioned trustees".
  4. ^ "Interim manager appointed to grantmaker after trustees sanctioned over invasion of Ukraine".
  5. ^ "Genesis Philanthropy Group announces recipients of grant money". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
  6. ^ "What is COVID-19 doing to the Jewish community?". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
  7. ^ Prince, Cathryn J. "NY festival celebrates Russian Jewish immigrants as the 'drivers' of American culture". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 2021-04-22.
  8. ^ "How should Jews treat each other? Jewish thinkers have come up with a plan". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 2019-09-11. Retrieved 2021-04-22.
  9. ^ "How technology can keep Holocaust memories alive". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2021-12-23.
  10. ^ "Genesis Philanthropy Group announces 'Big Push' to Fund the Growth of Pivotal UK Jewish Community Organizations". eJewish Philanthropy. 2018-11-26. Retrieved 2021-04-22.
  11. ^ Lipshiz, Cnaan (May 27, 2021). "To mitigate COVID-19 shortfall, Genesis Philanthropy Group donates $4 million to European Jewish institutions". The Forward. Retrieved 2021-12-23.
  12. ^ "Ilia Salita, Genesis Philanthropy Group head, dies". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
  13. ^ "Genesis Philanthropy Group names Marina Yudborovsky as new CEO". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
  14. ^ Chernikoff, Helen (2021-03-19). "Meet Marina Yudborovsky: Genesis Philanthropy Group's CEO". eJewish Philanthropy. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
  15. ^ "More than 30 Jewish thinkers and leaders launch blueprint for Israeli-diaspora relations". www.thejc.com. Retrieved 2021-12-23.
  16. ^ "Declaring Our Common Destiny". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2021-12-23.
  17. ^ "Global Jewish unity on display as Rivlin endorses 'roadmap for future'". JNS.org. 2020-12-18. Retrieved 2021-12-23.